Mackay celebrating 50 years of work for people with disability

Jake Parker has had a job with Endeavour Foundation in Mackay for just over 18 months but in that time, the 22-year-old has achieved a huge amount.

He’s got a forklift and a truck licence and you’ll often see him whizzing around the site, picking up pallets and transporting materials, which is outstanding when you consider Jake has only one arm.

This week Endeavour Foundation in Mackay is celebrating an incredible 50 years of providing meaningful work to people like Jake.

Founded in 1960, Endeavour Foundation’s Mackay branch initially formed with a focus on improving the education opportunities for people with intellectual disability but by 1968 a workshop had opened to provide jobs to 20 people as well.

Fifty years later, Endeavour Foundation employs 72 people with disability in Mackay and sells on average $280,000 of products per month to the community and the mining industry, with any profits going back into supporting people with disability.